Bolton boosts Taiwan's UN bid

BREAKTHROUGH? Meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang, the former US ambassador to the UN voiced support for the nation's world body bid

By Jewel Huang / STAFF REPORTER

Former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton, left, chats with Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang in Taipei yesterday.

PHOTO: PATRICK LIN, AFP

Former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton yesterday voiced support for Taiwan's representation in the UN, but suggested the nation first reach a consensus on the name used to apply for membership.

Bolton said he exchanged views with Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (黃志芳) on a range of issues, including Taiwan's representation in the UN, which he described as "appropriate."

"Of course Taiwan should become a UN member," he said. "It is a question for Taiwan to decide what name it uses to join the UN, but I think [the nation's membership] is entirely appropriate," Bolton said after a one-hour long closed-door meeting with Huang at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bolton said he would discuss the bid further in a speech this afternoon at the Grand Formosa Regent hotel in Taipei.

Huang told the media that Bolton said that supporting the nation's bid was in the US interest.

Bolton is visiting Taiwan at the invitation of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and arrived in Taipei on Sunday evening. It is his second visit, as Bolton attended President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) inauguration ceremony in 2000.

Bolton had expressed his support for Taiwan to join the UN at a congressional hearing on his appointment as undersecretary in 2001. He was appointed by US President George W. Bush as US ambassador to the UN in March 2005, but failed to win approval by the US Senate.